Days of Air and Darkness - Katharine Kerr [54]
“And did you say farewell to your friend?”
“I did, indeed. She and Rhodry are riding down to Hendyr, so the gods only know when I’ll see her again.”
Taurra nodded with the first sincere smile Sevinna had seen out of her all day.
“I don’t think it’s poisoned at all,” Jill said. “I think she was just playing with me, daring me to say one word there in front of the others. Or it may not have been Mallona at all. Maybe she just took a dislike to me. I mean, I’m this common-born dirty lass, sitting among the fine ladies. Maybe I was imagining the whole bit about poisoned fruit.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. She certainly matches the description of Mallona we’ve got.”
They were up in the chamber of their inn, kneeling on the floor and examining the slice, which lay in a patch of sunlight.
“But even if it’s not her,” Jill went on, “she’s a strange woman, anyway. Rhoddo, I know you hate it when I talk about dweomer and stuff, but I could feel danger in that room. It came pouring off her like a stink.”
Rhodry looked up, angry, but he said nothing.
“What it is, is she’s desperate,” Jill went on. “You know, when I was little, Da and I were staying in a dun where he had a hire, and one of the lord’s dogs got stepped on by a horse. It crushed his paw, and when the kennelman went to help the poor creature, the dog bit him, ever so badly, too. It went all septic, and the kennelman lost his hand over it. I’ve never forgotten that, it was so awful.”
“And Mallona reminds you of the dog?”
“She does. Oh, I know what you’re going to say—she’s not a poor helpless animal but a murderess. You’re right, and that makes her even more dangerous.”
“I’m glad to see you realize it.”
“But we’ve got to be sure it’s her. What we need is a witness. How far are we from Dwaen?”
“Three days’ ride. Why?”
“I want you to go fetch him. He’s a justice-minded man, and I’ll wager he’ll come back with you. Look, we’ve got to have a noble-born witness. Davylla won’t have to believe a silver dagger or a servant or rider or suchlike, but she’ll have to believe a tieryn. He’ll be riding on the matter of Coryc of Caenmetyn’s justice, and so her husband will have to take him in.”
“That makes sense, truly. You know, our innkeep has an extra horse here in the stables. I could use some of that coin Dwaen gave us and buy him for an extra mount. Although, wait! What if the lady slips away while we’re gone?”
“Where would she go? She’ll never find a hole this comfortable again. Besides, that’s why I’ll be staying here.”
“What? Are you daft? I don’t want to bring Dwaen to Belgwerger to find you dead.”
“I’m going to be careful, don’t trouble your heart about that. But she’s right there with Davylla and the gwerbret’s daughters. For all I know, she might poison one of them for the fun of it.”
“Ah, horseshit, she wouldn’t dare! You’re not staying alone. I won’t even hear of it.”
“Rhodry, my beloved.” Jill smiled and caught his hand between both of hers. “You know I won’t if you really say so, but be sensible.”
While Rhodry haggled with the innkeep for the extra horse, Jill took the apple slice and went down to the stable, where she found the innkeep’s son, a skinny lad, all Adam’s apple and big nose.
“Tell me somewhat.” Jill held up a couple of coppers. “How do you trap rats in your stable? Do you use those little wicker cage things?”
“We do, and then I drown them when I’ve got them. Why? There’s not a rat in your chamber, is there? I’ll get a trap up right away if there is.”
“That’s not it. Here, can you keep a secret? I’ve got a rival for my man, you see, and she gave me a present of some honeyed fruit, but I don’t feel like eating it without having someone else taste it first. Can I bait one of your traps with the slice?”
“Why not? If it’s poisoned, then that’s one less rat I have to drown.”
Jill handed him the coppers, then followed him into the stable. Near bags of oats were the traps,